Transportation Veteran and Current CEO of Atlanta Transit Authority to be First Female GM

BOSTON- Monday, September 24, 2012- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors today voted to appoint Beverly A. Scott as General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and MassDOT Rail & Transit Division Administrator. A 30-year transportation veteran, Scott will be the first female general manager of the MBTA.

Scott currently serves as Chief Executive Officer & General Manager for MARTA, the Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Authority in Atlanta, Georgia, the 9th largest public transit system in the country. She has held the position since 2007. Her prior experience in public transportation leadership spanning more than 30 years includes Chief Executive Officer & General Manager of the Sacramento Regional Transit District in Sacramento, California, and General Manager of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority in Providence.

“I am excited to join the rest of the Board in approving Beverly Scott’s appointment and look forward to working with her,” said MassDOT Secretary & Chief Executive Officer and MassDOT Board member Richard A. Davey. “Her vast expertise in transit management is the right fit at a critical time as we manage our transportation challenges in the Commonwealth. I know Bev shares our fundamental priorities of safety and customer service at the T.”

The unanimous vote to appoint Scott came following the Board’s public interviews today with candidate finalists Scott and Dwight Ferrell. In all, 106 applications were received for the position, with 22 applicants forwarded to the Preliminary Screening Committee.

“On behalf of the Board, I also wish to express appreciation to our other finalist, Dwight Ferrell, as we had the privilege of interviewing two outstanding candidates today,” said Davey.

Beverly Scott graduated Magna cum laude with a Bachelor Arts degree from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee and received a Ph.D. in Political Science with a specialization in Public Administration from Howard University, Washington, D.C.

Scott will receive a 3-year contract and an annual salary of $220,000. In addition, her compensation package, details to be negotiated, will be line with the recommendations from the 2011 Crosby Report of the Quasi-Public Authority Compensation Review Commission. Scott will finish her term at MARTA in Atlanta and is expected to join the MBTA by the start of 2013.

Current MBTA Acting General Manager Jonathan Davis will return to his position as Chief Financial Officer upon Scott’s arrival.

“I want to thank current MBTA Acting GM Jonathan Davis for absolutely outstanding leadership at the T during the past year and for his many years of prior service, and we are fortunate to retain Jon’s wise counsel going forward.”